Traveling sail-securing device



P. C. WILSON TRAVELING SAIL SECURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10, 1927 v J 24 x I l 2.?

ATTORNEYS.

atively to the runner, such movement being limited by the terminals or seats 18 of the slot. Each attaching link is connected to the sail in any desired manner, the connection preferably including a reinforced eye 20 secured to the sail. i

All of the runners 15 are of the same construction, and a description of one only is a description of all. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the runner is generally channel-shaped in cross section, including a back section 21, opposed side or edge sections 22 and opposed inwardly extending marginal projections or flanges 23. This construction provides opposed edge channels or grooves 24- forthe reception of the edges of the guide bar, as shown in Fig. The slide or runner is thus connected to the guideway for traveling movement in either direction therealong.

The bottom of the edge channels of the runner form edge contact surfaces 25 forceoperation with the adjacent contact surfaces of the guidebar 12, said contact surfaces 25 being curved or convexed longitudinally from end to end thereof, and also convexed or rounded transversely so as to present domelike contact surface at any point therealong for providing a point contact cooperative with the opposed edge contact surfaces of the guide bar 12., The contact surfaces 25 are so disposed and the curvature thereof so proportioned relatively to the width of the guide bar 12 that whenever contact occurs between the cooperating surfaces such contact will be within the longitudinal limits of the contact surfaces 25 and will always be a point contact. For example, as clearly seen in Fig. 4, when the runner tilts edgewise in either direction, the engagement between the guideway edges and the convex contact surfaces 25 occurs within the longitudinal limits of the latter no matter what may be the degree of tilting. In Fig. 4 the runner is tilted or rotated as far as possible to the left and the contact points 26 between the runner contact surfaces 25 and those of the bar- 12 are well within the longitudinal limits of said contact surfaces 25.

The result of this arrangement is that the contact surfaces 25 are always brought into play whenever an engagement occurs with the edges of the guide bar 12. Furthermore, due to the longitudinal and transverse curvature of the contact surfaces 25, the contact thereof with the guide bar will always be a point contact. Frictional resistances to progress of the runner in either direction is thus materially reduced and tendency to binding or jamming action between the runner and guide bar is diminished. Also engagement between any fiat angular or sharp surfaces of the runner with the guideway is prevented.

Frictional or other resistance to the progress of the runner along the guideway is still further decreased by the dome-like contact surfaces 27 formed on the inner face of the back sect-ion 21. The contact surfaces 27 are preferably positioned at or near each end of the runner and arranged transversely thereof, being convexed longitudinally thereof in a direction transverse to. the runner and also convexed or rounded transversely of their length, thus forming contact surfaces similar in form to contact surfaces 25. The contact surfaces 27, therefore, always contact with the adjacent face of the guide bar at a point, and a dome-like surface is always presented to the guide bar, even though the runner may tilt slightly transversely of its length. The inner-surfaces of the side sections 28 of the back 21 may also, if desired, be siniilarlypro vided with contact surfaces similar to contact surfaces 27, but arranged longitudinally of the runner, and each presenting a domelike point contact intermediate the ends of the runner. Furthermore, the inner surfaces of the flanges 23 are provided with contact surfaces 29 being convexed inwardly longitudinally thereof and longitudinally of the runner, and being-also convexed or rounded transversely thereof, as seen in Fig. 3, so as to provide a dome-like contact surface similar to the other contact surfaces above described and adapted to form a point contact with the adjacent face of the guide bar 12.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the runner is provided at all partsthereof which oppose and make contact with any part of the guide bar during travel therealong in either direction, with the dome-like contact surfaces, each contacting at a point only with the adjacent surface of the guide bar. Re-

sistances to progress of the runner in either direction is, therefore, reduced to a minimum and tendency to binding or jamming is diminished, both by the dome-like contact surfaces and by the arrangement of the edge contact surfaces 25, as above set forth.

Binding or jamming tendency of the runnor is still further diminished by the lost motion connection between the link 19 and the runner provided by the elongatedconnecting bar 16, with the end extensions thereof, and link seats 18 positioned beyond the adjacent contact surfaces of the runner at either end thereof, as above set forth. With this arrangement any incipient binding or jamming that may occur is immediately freed by operation of this connection, due to the fact that any longitudinal stress exerted upon the runner by the connectinglink 18 is directed in the form of a pull at a point beyond the advance contact surfaces of the runner in either direction of travel thereof. A longitudinal pull upon therunner directed as described tends to bring it into alignment with the guide bar, thus minimizing binding tendency due to tilting of the runner.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction, and different embodimer ts of invention icould abe made withou't departing fromi the scope thereof, itiis intended thatf all matter icontained .in the I above descr-iption --or-shovvn in rtheimaccom panying drawing 9hallibeinterpreted1as illus trati veand nojt 'na limiting sense."

Itisalsotobeimd ."tood --that the following claiins are intendedptof cover rallofthe generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

- Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters.

Patent is -1. A traveler slide for securing devices having a plurality of angularly disposed faces, each provided with one ormore domelike projections providing point contact surfaces.

2. A traveler slide for "securing devices having opposed similarlongitudinally and transversely curved contact edge surfaces,

" and having opposed surfaces disposed at an angle. to said edge surfaces, and each provided With one or more point contact surfaces.

3. In a device of the character described, in combinatiomguideway and a runner slidably supported by said guidevvay and having point contact therewith ata plurality of an{ gularly disposedfaces thereof.

4. In a device of the character described,

in combination, an elongated guide bar having a plurality of angularly disposed contact surfaces and a runner having projecting dome-like surfaces providing point contacts 1n sliding supporting engagement, respectively, With said angularly' disposed contact surfaces. V

5. In a device of the character in combination, a guidevvay and a runner having similar oppositely disposed longitudinally and transversely convexededge contact surfaces, each of said contact surfaces being longitudinally convexed throughout its long1tud1nal extent.

p 6. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a guideway and a runner slidably supported by said guideWay and havingpoint contact therewith at a plurality of angularly disposed faces thereof, and a connecting link connected to "said runner for shifting movement longitudinally thereof in either direction.

7. In adevi-ce of the character described, in combination, an elongated guide, bar havinga plurality of angularly disposed contact surfaces, a runner having projecting dome-,

like surfaces providing point contacts in sliding supporting engagement,respectively, With said angularly' disposed contact surfaces, and a connecting link connected to said runner for shifting movement longitudinally thereof in either direction.

I 8. In a device of the character described,

the traveler is moved in either direction.

described, I

in combination, a aguidewayi and -a runner ih'av I idinallyuand transversely onvexedgedge icontact surfaces, each of: said contact surfaces :Lcontact parts thereof,;anc1faconnec 'ng link havinga shifting anoint :off connect-ion gWgllill said runner. shiftable to points inadvance of the foremost of saidcontact'surfaces .vvl ien' ng similar opfpositely=disposed I -b'ei ng longitudinafhy 'eonvexed tsbgtheada along, a connecting link for said runner con- 4. nected to the latter, the connection between said runner and connecting link including seats at either end of the runner and fixed in position relatively to said runner, said seats being positioned respectively beyond the. ad#

acent end of the runner into which the link is automatically shiftable in one direction or another.

11; In a device of the character described,

in combination, an elongated guidevvay hav ing opposed edge contact surfaces and a run-: ner having opposed channels for the reception of said edge contact surfaces, said chan' nels each having bottom surfaces for engage-1 ment with said gui-deWay edge contact sur-Q faces and being convexed transversely thereof and longitudinally convexed throughout 1 their longitudinal extent.

ion

12. In a, device of the character de'scribed,-

in combination, an elongated guideway hav ing opposed edge contact surfaces and a runner having opposed channels for the reception of said edge contact surfaces,said channels each having bottom'surfaces for engagement With said guidevvayedge contact surfaces and being convened transversely there of and longitudinally convexed throughout their longitudinal extent, said runner having aplurahty-of point contact surfaces positioned for contacting With other surfaces of.

said guideway.

13. In a device of the character described,

- in combination an elongated, guideway and i a securing runner mounted upon said guidevvay'for movement therealong, said runner having similar late'ally opposedylongituc'linailv and transversely curved edge contact faces extendinglongitudinally of the runner and contacting with said guidevvay and 00- operating therewith to prevent binding be tween the guidevvay and runner.

14. In adevice of the character described, in combination, an elongated guideivay and a traveler mounted upon said guideway for movement therealong, said traveler having similar laterally opposed longitudinally and transversely curved edge Contact surfaces ex- 5 tending longitudinally thereof for contacting with said'guideway, said contact faces each being curved throughout the longitudinal extent thereof whereby said faces engage simultaneously at points intermediate the ends thereof with the 1 companion contact 1 faces of the guideway whensaidslide is tilted or rotated edgewiaeto' any possible extent.

a In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PRESCOTT C. WILSON. 

